Johnson's Plateau Roadside Pulloff

This is a roadside pull-off in the South Unit, beside a prairie-dog town that spreads on both sides of the road. It is a brief wildlife pause to add to the drive, not a walk or an outing that needs much time. Scan the short grass and dirt mounds for black-tailed prairie dogs popping up or darting between burrows.

The animals don’t hibernate, but harsh weather can keep them underground for several days. During milder winter spells, they may come out to forage, so a quiet-looking town isn’t always empty. The park’s only prairie-dog species is the black-tailed prairie dog.

A town is a network of closely spaced burrows, and each group is called a coterie. A coterie usually has one adult male, several adult females and their young. Members recognize one another with a quick kiss or sniff; listen for their sharp, bark-like calls when one spots danger.

Prairie dogs clip vegetation to keep sightlines open around their burrows. With less grass competing for space, low-growing forbs can spread, and that fresh growth draws grazers such as pronghorn and bison. The colony shapes the prairie around it as well as giving you something to watch.